Grove steps up to cut down Ammos
OCEAN Grove believes its depth will help it get even better after handing Geelong Amateur its first A-grade netball loss in more than two years.
Down by five goals at halftime, the Grubbers rallied on Saturday to take down the previously undefeated Ammos by a goal.
Ammos went through last season without a loss and had cruised through the first seven rounds this year.
After pushing the Bellarine’s standout side last year, Ocean Grove coach Nikki Cooke said her team entered the landmark win confident.
“We got close last year and we didn’t get to play them again in finals, so we were pretty confident we would be able to beat them (in finals last year),” Cooke said.
“I know Ammos had (star shooter) Ruby Watson out (on Saturday) and she is a huge loss and … no doubt their team will look very different next time we play them, as will ours.”
Like most netball sides this year, Ocean Grove’s selection has been thrown out by Covid and the flu. Knee injuries to defensive aces Rhiannan Whitson and Candice Parker also have not helped.
Whitson and Parker are hopeful of returning in the next four weeks but their injuries and the impact of illness has allowed the Grubbers to push their high-flying B-grade players up a level.
“I have to give a big shoutout to our B-grade girls who are stepping up and playing six quarters a week sometimes,” Cooke said.
“Who knows what will happen between now and next week with Covid and the flu and all that, so we are constantly juggling on our feet and we have a lot of depth which does help.”
She highlighted the work of goal attack Ash O’Brien, who put in 14 goals and set up attacks all match in her best outing of the season.